Unfinished Tales - Part One - II - Narn I Hín Húrin

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I don't think anyone would blame Morwen for desiring to keep her son free, and out of thralldom. But we always return to the fact that Túrin's sorrow was not due only to leaving his home, but being forcibly parted from his family. It needn't have been that way, and Morwen's pride was the sole cause.

No, he could have been a thral together with Morwen. I doubt he would be happier that way.

If the family had travelled to Doriath together, it seems clear Túrin's "fate" would have been altered. Whether that would have been enough to wholly escape the curse is debatable, but still: as with he son later, Morwen aided the curse's workings with her own personal choices.

And I see no reason to dislike Morwen for that. She's no Nostradamus to know what would happen to her family if she chose one thing over another. She chose what her heart told her was right, and what can she do about it if it's wrong? She made a mistake, no denial, but she's just a human!

Moreover, from a purely reader's position (which means that now I'm talking about her as a book characer rather than one I am imagining myself with), it is illogical for the story for her to make the right choice, if there is a "right" choice (as you said, it is still debatable). Sad stories don't happen if there isn't any story. Here you have to ask yourself: if you are the author intending to write a tragedy, would you really have the characters do everything "right" so that there is a happy, or happier, ending?

Morwen aided the curse. With a deed that was meant to defy it. How would she have known that? "Proud and stern" is who she is, with or without Morgoth's words. It just happens so that the curse draws out the negative side of all attributes of any character involved. Pride is not a bad thing, as was discussed already. The consequences of this particular pride were bad, through mischance rather than a fault of Morwen's.

And really, what do you expect her to do? You are looking at things too objectively. You are the reader; you know the past, present, and future of the characters, as well as all the little "dramatic irony" facts. They don't. Look at Morwen's choice with her knowledge, attitude, and point of view, not with yours.